Connecting device



June 16, 1936.

R. c. HOLTON CONNECTING DEVICE Filed Sept. 19, 1934 INVENTOR. E01]!!!110E011.

Patented June 16, 1936 U TED; STAT S PA NT O F I p 2,044,302 v 1CONNECTING DEVICE- Rollin 0. Bolton, Cleveland, Ohio ApplicationSeptember 19, 1934, Serial No. 744,702

My invention relates, in general, to connecting devices andmoreparticularly to unions for connected pipes, or the like.-

- An object of my invention is the provision of 5 a union for pipes orthe like, wherein, when the union is disassembled, there'is sufficientspace between the ends of the connected pipes to allow them to bedisengaged without disaligning the pipes. r r

Another object of my invention-is the provision of a union, wherein theunion permits removal of the connected pipes, or of any'device'to whichthe connected pipes may be connected, without disturbing or disaligningthe connected pipes or reshifting orrelocating the device, in order toobtain suficient space-between the ends of the connected pipes to allowtheir removal.

Another object of my invention is the provision of a union having anextension portion which, when the extension portion is disassembled,gives suiflcient space between the ends of the connected pipes to allowthe pipes-to be removed,- without disaligning the connected pipes.

Other objects, and a clearer understanding of my invention may be had byreferring to the following description, taken in connection with theaccompanying drawing in which:

Figure 1 represents a cross sectional View of a union embodying thefeatures of my invention.

Figure 2 is a view of a union embodying the features of my invention,the union being illustrated in its disassembled position.

Figure 3 is an elevated view of a gasoline pump in which my unions areemployed, and

Figure 4 is across sectional view of a modified form of my unionwherein'a gasket is employed, instead of direct contact engaging sur-:aces.

With reference to Figure 1 of the drawing, my union is adapted toconnect the two pipes 10 and H. -As illustrated; the union comprises asleeve M, an extension l3, a tightening collar 2, and a flanged sleeve2|. The sleeve l4 may be provided with a standard pipe female thread toengage the standard male thread provided on the end of the pipe I0. Thethreads are so arranged that the sleeve M is tightened upon the pipe IDby turning it to the right, or in a clockwise direction as viewed fromthe right-hand side of the union. As shown, the outer surface of thesleeve l4 may be provided with a male pipe thread I5 adapted tothreadedly engage the female pipe thread provided internally of theextension l3. These threads are so arranged that r the extension 3 istightened when it is turned 2 Claims. (01'. 285-42) to the left, or in acounter-clockwise direction, as viewed from the right-hand side of theunion-.- The male pipe threads l5 provided on theoutside of the sleevel4 have a negative tapper; in that, beginning at the right-hand end ofthe sleeve theyhave a decreasing diameter as they recede towards thecentral portion of the sleeve l4.

As shown, the flanged sleeve 2| is provided with an external flange 20which is engaged by the internal flange l9 provided on the tighteningcollar I2. Therefore,'by tightening the col-. lar I2, the left-hand end|8 of the flanged sleeve 2| firmly engages a right-hand end I! of theextension |-3. lhese contacting surfaces l1 and I8 are machined orground to match each other, so that when they are drawn tightly togetherby the tightening collar l2, there is a good tight seal established toprevent the fluid or gas which flows through the pipe from escaping.

In explaining the function of my union, let N it be assumed that thepipe -|0 of Figure 2 is to be disconnected from the flange 30. In thiscase, the tightening collar I2 is first unscrewed from the extension l3and then backed off over the flanged sleeve 2| around the pipe II, whichis connected to the flange 3|. The extension 3 is then turned to theright as viewed from; the right-hand side of the union, and unscrewedfrom the sleeve l4, after which it is backed off the sleeve 14, aroundthe pipe ID. The parts of the union are so proportioned that in the viewshown in Figure 2, there is suflicient space between the end of thesleeve I4 and the end |8 of the flanged sleeve 2|, to allow the pipe H)to 3 be threadably disengaged from the flange 30. In other words, thespace between the end of the sleeve l4 and the end |8 of the flangedsleeve 2| is greater than the depth that the pipe I0 is screwed into theflange 30. It is pointed out, however, that it is not necessary toremove the pipe ||l first, but that the pipe may be removed first, aswell as the pipe I.

It is noted that, while tightening the extension IS on the sleeve I4,since it is turned to the left when tightening, there is a tendency tounscrew the sleeve Hi from the pipe II]. Therefore, as illustrated, inFigure 2, the extension I4 is provided with two opposite flat portions29, whereby, during the assembling of the union. it may be held by awrench while the extension 3 is being screwed on, the sleeve l4.

There are many applications for my invention, one of which is shown withreference to the gasoline pump of Figure 3, which comprises in general abase 28, a pumping unit 26, and a meter 21. It is noted that one of myunions is mounted in the pipes leading to the pumping unit 26 from thetank buried in the ground, and another union is mounted in the pipeswhich interconnects the pump unit 26 to the meter 21. In maintaininggasoline pumps, it frequently becomes necessary to remove the entirepumping unit 26 for repairs. In doing this, it is only necessary, withmy invention, to disconnect the two unions and then remove the pumpingunit from the casing. This is made possible, because there is suflicientspace between the sleeve l4 and the flanged sleeve 2| to allow theremoval of the pumping unit 26, without disaligning the connected pipes.In those cases wherein my union is not employed, but where the standardunion is employed, there is a great deal of difllculty'encountered inremoving the pumping unit 26, as the disconnected pipes will not cleareach other.

pumping unit 26 and allow it to drop down sufficiently so that thedisconnected pipes that lead to the meter 21 may not interfere with theremoval of the pumping unit 26. This is a difficult job to do becausethere is usually a rather small place in which to work, and also thepumpingunit 261s quite heavy tohandle conveniently all of which, ofcourse, is obviated by utilizing unions embodying the features of myinvention.

In Figure 4, I illustrate a modified view of my union in that, I embodya gasket 32 instead of the ground or machined contacting engagingsurfaces l1 and I8, as shown in Figure 1. The

construction of the remaining parts of the union are the same as thoseshown and described in the preferred form of my invention. While I have.shown my invention in connection with rigidpipes, it is to beunderstood, however, that my invention may be used for the joining offlexible tubing, and metallic hose of various kinds, as well as rigidpipes. 1

Although I have described my invention with a certain degree ofparticularity, it is understood that the present disclosure has beenmade only by way of example and that numerous changes in the details ofconstruction and the combination and arrangement of parts may-beresorted to without departing from the spirit and the scop of theinvention as hereinafter claimed.

I claim as my invention:

1. A device for connecting two aligned members having their adjacentends spaced apart and provided with threads comprising, in combina--tion, asleeve having on one end male threads and on the other endthreads adapted to thread-' ably engage the threads on the end of one ofthe aligned members, a flanged sleeve having threads; adapted tothreadably engage the threads on the end of the other aligned member,said flanged sleeve having an external flanged portion provided with arearward surface and a forward sealing surface, the arrangement of thesaid sleeve and the said flanged sleeve being such that when they areboth threadably engaged to their respective aligned members, there issuflicient space between their adjacent ends to allow either the saidsleeve or the said flanged sleeve to be threadably disengaged from itsaligned member without disaligning the aligned members, an extension fortelescoping the said sleeve and arranged to :-extend to and engage theflanged sleeve, said extension having female threads adapted tothreadably: engage the male threads of the said sleeve. and having acomplementary sealing surface adapted to cooperate with the sealingsurface 1 of the flanged sleeve, and fastening means for securing thesealing surface of the flanged sleeve and the complementary sealingsurface of the extension together to form a good connection.

2 A device for connecting two aligned members having their adjacent endsspaced apart and provided with threads comprising, in combination, asleeve having on one end male threads and on theother end threadsadapted to threadably engagethe threads on the end of one of the alignedmembers, a flanged sleeve having threads adapted to threadably engagethe threads on the end; of theother aligned member, said flanged sleevehaving an external flanged portion provided with a rearward engagingshoulder and a forward sealing surface, the arrangement of the saidsleeve and the said flanged sleeve being such that when they are boththreadably engaged to theirrespective aligned members, there issufficient space between their adjacent ends to allow either thesaidsleeve or the saidflanged sleeve to be threadably disengaged from itsaligned memher without disaligning the aligned members, an extensionhaving male and female threads and adapted to telescope the said sleeveand extend to and, engage the flanged sleeve, said female threads of theextension being adapted to threadably engage the male threads of thesaid sleeve, and arranged with such taper that the threads tighten asthe extension moves longitudinally toward the flanged sleeve, and saidmale threads of the extension being adapted to align themselves with theperiphery of the saidexternal flanged portion of the flanged sleeve, theend of said extension being provided with a complementary sealingsurfaceadapted to cooperate with the sealing surface of the flangedsleeve, and a tightening collar having an internal flange adapted toengage the rearward engaging shoulder of the external flange portionand-having femalethreads adapted to threadably engage the male threadson the extension fol-drawing the sealing surface of the flanged sleeveand the sealing surface of the extension towards each other and therebysecuring a tight connection between the flanged sleeve and theextension.

. ROI-LIN C. HOLTON.

